Agree with Azuri, the balance of fillings and the patties are both excellent. I've never found the guy to be surly. I believe they are now $6.00 or so, but I'd say you are getting a better product than from the cart (no anti cart bias, just really like Azuri).

I went to Gazala again recently. The falafel was solid but a bit salty, but one thing about that place is that their hummus is fantastic - nutty, just delicious, and probably the best I've had anywhere, so far. I also love their labane. But I must warn anyone who wants to try their tasty osh al-saraya dessert that it's now very small and costs $7.60. Gazala used to be a better value.

They have different varieties of hummus, too -- chickpea, fava, etc. Slightly smoky, I seem to recall. I agree that it's very good. Their very thin flat bread, clearly the middle-eastern inspiration for Indian rumali roti (handkerchief bread), is also excellent.

I'm also a little obsessed with falafel. I really miss the Taim truck, which used to park in midtown on certain days, but the police have kicked them out of midtown entirely, along with all the other trucks, due to some BS court ruling.

Kwik Meal #1 (a cart) has a really amazing falafel sandwich at the southwest corner of 45th and 6th. The sandwich is a bit small though, but it's excellent. I just read somewhere that it's brushed with butter, though. Isn't that cheating?! :) I don't know, I just feel like falafel sandwiches shouldn't have butter. But that won't stop me from going back again and again anyway! The bread (pita? thin laffa? something great anyway) seems to be homemade.

Of course, there's also Maoz at 40th & 7th as well as a new location on 8th Ave. near 43rd. But for me, that's more about the falafel salad bar (especially the pickled red eggplant) than the falafel itself. Their falafel is good but not as good as Kwik Meal's or Taim's.

I tried Gazala once. It was OK. I'd put their falafel at about the same level as Maoz's.

Any other suggestions that aren't too far west? I generally have to stick to places east of 7th Ave.

I've been meaning to try Azuri for years, but it's way too far out of bounds for me for lunch. I keep meaning to get over there for dinner, but I often work late. I don't want to get there close to closing time and incur the wrath of the proprietor. There are some scary stories in an older thread about what happens if you go there as late as, say, 8:30.

CRISP. I love the African sandwich with includes spicy peanut sauce. My fiance loves the Parisien sandwich with includes goat cheese. They also have a food truck and a newly opened location in Greeley Square.